Clipperblog has packed a little duffel bag and moseyed on over to TrueHoop at ESPN.com for the next week or so to fill in for The Dean, Henry Abbott.

It goes without saying that, in the event that Clippers find a point guard, Clipperblog will respond to the bell with the intensity and focus of Chris Kaman at a gun show.

Posted Wednesday, October 29 at 3:20PM

Good news!

We have launched a new ClipperBlog.com site! You are currently on our old system & are viewing an archived page. We will continue to keep all 670 posts from our first 3 years on this archive site. Soon we will be closing the comments for each of these older posts.

Comments

Clippers should claim Derek Fisher off waivers and pay his $21 million dollar salary - just to keep him from the Lakers. And guess what - he would be a better fit for LAC than Stevie Franchise. D-Fish is leader, and plays good D and doesn't make foolish mistakes. A Win-Win for the Clippers

Clippers are already laden with ex-Lakers. And we are paying heavy price for that. These ex-Lakers working for Clippers have been trying hard to keep Clippers in the basement. So that their beloved Lakers won't end up in that coveted basement throne. Ask Elgin Baylor for further info. Last thing we need is another X-Lake.

Finally Clippers are not playing last game of the day in Las Vegas. Today they are playing at 3pm vs. Memphis. Hopefully with an NBA standard TV coverage?

Thanks C.Derrick. Are you trying to say, that we have to stop criticizing ELGIN BAYLOR?

Until we retire him(his retired jersey at Lakers) our team is not going to garner any respect around the league. A-List players ignore Clippers because they have no respect for Non-Working General Manager(Operations what?).

Wasn't it Elgin who made the trade for Brand? If I recall correctly, Dunleavy wasn't hear yet. Elgin traded Tyson Chandler for Brand. I think we made out alright.
I'm not saying Elgin is perfect. But to say he has been non-working is a bit unfair.

Kaman is being punished for his horrible season. He knows that he deserves to be punished. Hopefully he's making the best of it, and is ready to play by the time the regular season starts.

Stevie Franchise, provided his knee is ok, can be the perfect replacement for Cassell, if he realizes how effective he can be. The success of the '05-'06 season was mostly because of Cassell and what he brought to the table. A healthy Francis can do as well if not better.

15th vacant spot is reserved for Shaun Livingston for next 2 seasons(sorry Shaun, you better not come back too soon. You can rest little longer. Think of next 10 seasons after your long rehab. & light work-out schedule)

With J-Hart moving to utah, i think the clips must grab Franchise. i agree that we need a PG scoring threat to reduce double teams on EB and Kaman (if he can get out of his season long rut). With sam breaking down, we need a PG that the defense HAS to pay attention to. Shaun never scared defenders as an offensive threat with his limited shooting skills. I just hope Steve and Cutino can still play team ball if reunited, and not just focus on their one-two punch.

With Corey being able to opt out of his contract next season, is it time to trade him sometime before the deadline? That should give Thornton some time to get used to the nba level, and we can maybe pull a 3 way deal to bring in a back up SF and a 3rd PG. How about Telfair and Gerald Green from the Celts? Telfair is already a 3 string PG, and with Gomes, Ray-Ray and Paul pierce, Gerald Green won't see much PT. Green and Thornton at the wings could be real exciting.

that trade would be awful. i'm starting to think we're not gonna get steve francis, the longer this draws out the more i gotta believe he's talking to the mavs and or heat. if things were as simple w/ francis like we'd like to believe he'd have been signed already. i want to trade maggette for diaw, that way we won't need a pg so bad, we can run the offense through him like dunleavy had so much success w/ divac and sabonis, big men who you can run an offense through. we're gonna have to do something. and as far as the kaman bashing goes, i'm pretty sure, although i can't find the numbers right now, that kaman has played far less minutes this summer league than he did in 2005, which is probably why his stats are down.

I believe Francis is on waiver's for 7 day's from the day they bought out his contract. If someone signs him within the 7 day's that team picks up the rest of the contract that portland owes him. After 7 days they can pay him the mid level.

I just put a down payment for the priority seating and I asked the staples center ticket seller what he thought the odds of Franchise coming to town, and he said that he heard through the grape vine that it was looking good... good sales tactic or the real thing? Who knows ... good thing the priority seating deposit is refundable...

I haven't really seen him play much, but Thornton was putting up very Maggette-like numbers in summer league. From the looks of it he has poor shot selection like Maggette, gets to the line a lot (and makes it) like Maggette, crashes the boards like Maggette, and doesn't pass a lot just like Maggette. Maybe Thornton can fill Maggette's shoes after we trade him for a really good point guard.

I think of all those teams, we could offer him the most in playing time, especially at point guard. Hopefully his friendship with Cat can help. also, I think he has something to prove, and can do it best with the clippers. let's pray!

nah....thornton's a shooter. He rarely took it to the rack in summer league. I was slightly dissapointed by his first step, but VERY happy w/ his shooting abilities from 13-20 ft. He's not ready yet though...he can't dribble.

Something in works for Clippers! Instead of signing Stevie Wanderer, we are going to trade Mobley to that new Stevie team & get someone real young & solid in return. Mobley rejoines his buddy. But not in LA.

Point guard Steven Francis, who cleared waivers Tuesday night to become a free agent, will narrow his list of destinations from four teams to two and could sign a deal as soon as tonight, his agent said.

The Clippers, Rockets, Mavericks and Heat are all potential landing spots. Francis, who got a $30 million buyout from Portland, could go to the team that offers minutes rather than money.

Francis, 30, believes he would be most effective starting or playing 25-30 minutes a game. The Rockets and Mavericks appear set at point guard.

The Clippers and Heat could offer Francis a starting job or significant minutes at the position.

Let's hope franchise signs w/da Rockets and then LAC can trade Mobley for Mike James. Everybody then gets what they want; Rockets get a solid familiar backcount, LAC gets James who has game and can gun it. Corey gets lots of burn @the 2 where he dominates and Thornton plays the 3. Solid lineup.

Francis close to decision
Rockets among final four teams; choice could come as early as tonight

By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Chronicle News Services

Steve Francis ended Wednesday ready to sleep on his choice among four teams, including the Rockets. By tonight, his agent said, Francis could be ready to announce a decision.

Jeff Fried said Francis had not reached any decision, able only to narrow his choice to the Rockets, Heat, Mavericks and Clippers. Fried said he would not be able to list them in an order of preference.

Though the Rockets are limited to giving Francis $2.3 million for the first season — the money left on their mid-level exception after the signing of forward Luis Scola — Fried said the relatively small offer would not limit the team's chances with the 30-year-old guard.

"Because of the (buyout) agreement with the Trail Blazers, financial considerations really are secondary," Fried said. "He's looking for a fit.

"It really is different from the usual situation. If it was about one team offering 'X' million, another team offering 'Y' million and another team offering 'Z' million, that is a fairly absolute and quantitative way to make a decision. That's not the case here."

Rockets general manager Daryl Morey would not comment on the team's talks with Francis and Fried.

Francis became a free agent thanks to a $30 million buyout agreement with the Trail Blazers after he was traded by the Knicks to Portland. He likely is seeking a contract with an opportunity to opt out within a season or two, further making his decision less about the contract than the situation.

Francis, a three-time All Star with the Rockets from 1999-2004, has maintained a home and ties to Houston since he was traded by the Rockets to the Orlando Magic in the June 29, 2004, deal to acquire Tracy McGrady.

"Financial considerations are not the primary focus," Fried said. "Fit is the most important criteria. He has a family now and is considering what is best for them.

Looks like an open tryout now for backup point guard. If/when Sam's back/hammy/legs start hurting, the Clips are gonna be in deep trouble. Almost as bad as when Rick Brunson was their starting point guard...and that was really BAD...not that Stevie Franchise was the solution, or the Jared Jordan can't play, but the Clippers season is circling the drain as we speak...and we are not even out of July....very very sad...

with steve off the market, we're in big trouble with no decent PG who can contribute right away. Same is not gonna make it through the season playing starter minutes. Baylor and MD need to pull some magic out of their asses and make a trade happen for a PG. No way can we have J-Jordan or fricken Will Conroy be primary backup. 07-08 is off to a crappy start.

clips are in a world of hurt. they have no trading pieces. Cat has declined in productivity compared to his big contract. Nobody is going to want that. TT was a free agent bust whom nobody is going to want his contract either. Kaman, same thing. Until he proves that last season was a fluke, he's unmovable. Shaun, injury scares off other teams. Corey and EB are the only commodities. And corey will walk as soon as he can opt out.

Get Isiah on the phone and lets bring back Q-Rich. Knicks are always open to deal. And since Baylor was willing to gamble on contract player only TT, we might as well bring back Darius. If clips don't win, at least the anticipation of Q and Darius doing something exciting will be something to watch for..even if it's false hope.

Hate to say it but the Clips should have taken Stuckey over Thornton. They knew at the time of the draft that they did not have anyone capable of running the point. Seems like the keystone cops, not an NBA franchise.

Another year and another player we didn't grab when we should have. Steve Francis is with the Rockets and now who do we have for a back up at point? Korelev isn't ready, Hart is gone, Sammy can't play 32 a night!

Clips have confirmed it. They have no fucken balls. No major moves what so ever. Lets just hope management and coaching staff calls out all of last years players to step up! NO help at the point who else is out there in free agency. Lets hope cassell meant what he said about stepping up this season!

PG desperation mode is on. lets get on the phone with bo kimble, jeff martin, terry dehere, and lets get mark jackson back out of retirement like houston did a few years ago. you know what? get scottie pippen to run the point. ANYTHING but will conroy and these other guys that can only put up numbers in the d-league.

I can't believe we are down to hoping Brevin Knight signs with us to save our season. I like his game but combining him with Cassell gives us the a pretty creaky point guard situation. As long as we don't have to rely on Conroy for minutes I'll be happy I guess.

I read this on a blog, and the time has come to face the inevitable, I have to agree with the writer. We must give up our heart and soul or suffer a slow adn painful death.

“The Clips should realize that they are going nowhere. They're starting backcourt has an average age of 35 years of age, and Cassell has shown some significant signs of aging and unfortunately Livingston may never play again. It will take them at least 2-3 years to be back at a competitive level, and that's ONLY IF they make a trade to get young talent. If they don't, they will be like the Warriors Pre 2006. Not good enough for the Playoffs, but not bad enough to get a top lottery pick. NO MAN'S LAND!!!

A trade of Elton Brand, Quinton Ross and a 2nd round pick for Brandan Wright, Monta Ellis, Patrick O'Bryant, and Saras Jasekevicius would give them a young nucleus with some playoff experience, not to mention Kaman in the middle. A sign and trade of Pietrus for Cassell can also be done. In this trade the Clips not only get young playoff experienced talent, but an expiring contract in Saras ( who's has yet to be given an ample opportunity) and another almost expiring contract in Adonal Foyle.

Warriors will get Brand who can be the answer to the Warriors interior, a 1-year rental on Sam Cassell, the LA Clippers mal-content Quinton Ross, and a 2nd round pick. ”

If they attempt a last minute improbable playoff push this season, they run the risk of losing Cassell to retirement or free agency at the end of the season receiving nothing in return and they run the risk of being a mediocre team. Mediocre, but not bad enough to earn a top lottery pick in the draft to replace Cassell and Livingston. I honestly cannot see a better trade scenario for both teams.

There is also a plethora of superstar PG’s in next year’s draft. Includin OJ Mayo, Gordon, Lawson, Collison, Bayless, etc next season but they are only available if they really tank the season and get a top 5 pick.

This trade will obviously help the Clips, the only question is will the Warriors bite as they have other optins: they can land Garnett, trade for a big elsewhere, trade for Camby, or stand pat.”